Chair.



PATENTED NOV. 19, 1907. J. FLINDALL.

CHAIR.

APPLIUATION FILED JAN.24, 1907.

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PATENTED NOV. 19, 1907.

J. PLINDALL.

CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.24, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

JOHN FLINDALL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CHAIR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 19, 1907.

Application filed January 24.1907. Serial No. 353.841.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, John FLINDALL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Chairs; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in chairs, and particularly tocombination lounge and reclining chairs.

The invention comprises the production of an improved chair body framework, rockers mounted thereon, and a seat and improved operatingmechanism connected therewith mounted upon said rockers.

The invention further comprises the production of a combination chairand lounge having rockers on the frame work, a seat mounted on therockers, and improved means for reciprocating said seat in relation tothe rockers for varying the angle at which the seat is adapted to rockon the rockers.

The object in view is the production of a chair that may be convertedfrom a chair used in the ordinary way to a rocker without the occupantmoving from the chair by mechanism in easy reach of the occupant.

A further object in view is the production of a chair that is adapted tohave the seat thereof reciprocated upon rockers for producing any anglethat may be desired, and of means for rocking the seat upon the rockerswhen desired.

With these and other objects in view, the invention comprises certainnovel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts as will behereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing :Figure 1. represents a longitudinal,vertical section through part of a chair formed according to the presentinvention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through Fig. 1011 line 2-2. Fig.3 is a top plan View of the stationary frame work of a chair.

In the production of chairs, it has been found desirable to providechairs that may be converted from one shape into another for variouspurpose, as for instances, for a rocker and for a lounge. Various chairshave been constructed along this line, with varying success, and it isto this class of invention that the present construction relates.

In constructing a chair according to the present invention, I provide aframework formed of side members 1 and 2, and end members 3 and 4.Secured to the side members 1 and 2 are ways 5 and 6 upon which rockersS and 9 are mounted. In order to always hold the rockers 8 and 9properly on the ways 5 and 6, substantially hinged members, preferablyof spring material, 10 and 11 are secured at one end, as 12, to therockers, and at the other end to the runways at 13. Suitable hook-shapedmembers as 14- and 15 are secured to the rockers 8 and 9 at one end toprevent the same from leaving the run ways 5 and 6 when the chair isused as a rocker. The rockers 8 and 9 are securely held in properposition by suitable cross braces, as 16 and 17.

Secured to the rockers 8 and 9 is a frame work provided with sidemembers 18 and 19, and an end member 20. The members 18 and 19 arelirmlyheld in position by brace 17 and an intermediate brace 21. Secured,preferably to the under side of the braces 17 and 21, is a rack 22. Theside members 18 and 19 of the frame rests at one end upon the rockers 8and 9, and the opposite end upon a cushioning member 23. When the chairis used as an ordinary chair, or as a lounge, the cross piece 20 of theframe rests upon the cushion 23 and the members 18 and 19 rests upon therockers.

Positioned above the frame 20 is a seat 24 having a supporting bottom as25 of any desired construction. Secured to the portion 25 are suitablereinforcing members 26 and 27 which in turn has secured thereto a member28 that has formed therein a bearing 29 for accommodating a shaft 30. Tothe shaft 30 is rigidly secured gear wheels 31 and 32. As will beclearly seen in Fig. 1 of the drawings, gear wheel 31 meshes with rack22 while gear wheel 32 meshes with a worm 33. The worm 33 is operated bymeans of a shaft 34 and crank 35. It will be observed that the crank 35is positioned within easy reach of the occupant of the chair foroperation at any desired time. It will also be observed that the worm 33and gears 31 and 32 are carried by the seat portion, while the rack 22is carried by the rockers and the side members 18 and 19.

When it is desired to use the chair as a rocker, it is only necessary torevolve'the crank 35 and consequently revolve the gear 3l engaging rack22. The rack 22 being stationary will cause the seat portion 24 to moverearward when the gear wheel 31 is revolved in the proper direction. Themembers 26 and 27, as will be evident, will simply slide upon themembers 18 and 19. This will throw the seat 24 more off center andpermit the chair to be used as a rocker. In order to rock the chair withthe hand, a cord 36 has been provided which is passed through a suitableeyelet 37 in the arm 38 which is secured to side members or boards 38 inany desired manner, from thence over a pulley 39 secured to the member19, from thence over a pulley 40 secured to the bottom of the seat 24,and then to an aperture or slot 41 formed between the cross braces 42and 43. Suitable hook-shaped catches 44 and 45 are secured to the bottomof the seat 24 and adapted to pass under members 18 and 19 so that whenthe bottom or seat 24 is tilted upward the frame carrying members 18 19and 20 will also be tilted upward in front so as to always present asurface upon which members 26 and 27 may reciprocate.

In order to form a more easily operated surface for sliding the seat 24upon, a track as 46-46 is provided which engage wheels 4747 mounted uponmembers 18 and 19. It will be observed therefore, that wheels 4747support the front end of the seat 24, and the members 44 and 45 alwayshold the front end of the seat 24 in position for engaging wheels 47 47.

In the use of a chair as a lounge it is only necessary to operate thecrank 35 and connecting mechanism until the seat 24 is forced forwardany desired distance and then back 48 is lowered to any desired angle.Any desired mechanism for holding the back 48 in position may be used,but in order to show one operative construction I have shown in thedrawings a slot 49 formed with offset portions 50 through which a rod 51is adapted to pass for holding the back 48 in the desired position.

Having thus fully described my invention, whatv I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A device of the characterdescribed, comprising a frame, rockers supporting one end thereof, astationary member normally supporting the opposite end, a reciprocatingseat mounted on said frame, means for re ciprocating said seathorizontally on the frame and simultaneously throwing the weight of theseat entirely upon the rockers, grooved wheels at one end of said seatfor guiding and supporting said end, a trackfor said wheels, a pivotallymounted back secured to the said seat, and means for holding said backin position.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a frame, rockerssupporting one end thereof, a stationary member normally supporting theopposite end, a reciprocating seat, guiding catches depending from saidseat for guiding the movement of said seat, a track and wheel forassisting the guiding of said seat, a rack and gears for reciprocatingsaid seat horizontally on the frame and simultaneously throwing theweight of the seat entirely upon the rockers, and means for operatingsaid gears.

3. A device of, the character described, comprising a frame, rockerssupporting one end thereof, a reciprocating seat mounted on saidrockers, means for reciprocating said seat horizontally on the frame andsimultaneously throwing the weight of the seat entirely upon therockers, and a rubber cushion secured to said frame for supporting thefront end of said seat when in its lowered position.

4. A device of the character described, comprising a support, rockersmounted thereon, a reciprocating seat mounted on said rockers, means forreciprocating said seat, a cordloosely engaging said support at aplurality of points and said seat near the front end thereof for rockingthe seat, a device on one end of said rope for securing the same, and aslotted plate engaging said device.

5. A device of the character described, comprising a frame, rockers forsupporting said frame at one end, and a stationary member for normallysupporting the frame at the opposite end, a horizontal reciprocatingseat mounted upon said frame, a horizontally positioned rack secured tosaid frame, a plurality of gears securedto said seat, one of said gearsmeshing with said rack, a worm meshing with the other of said gears forreciprocating said seat, and means for rocking said seat andsimultaneously shifting the weight of the seat entirely upon therockers.

6. In a device of the character described,

a frame, a seat supported thereby, rockers supporting said frame at oneend, a station ary member normally supporting said frame at its oppositeend, and means for shifting the seat horizontally on the frame andsimultaneously throwing its weight entirely upon the rockers.

7. In a device of the character described, a frame, a'seat supportedthereby, rockers supporting said frame at one end, a stationary membernormally supporting said frame at its opposite end, means for shiftingthe seat horizontally on the frame and. simultaneously throwing itsweight entirely upon the rockers, and flexible members for rocking saidframe.

8. In a device of the class described, a frame, a rack bar securedthereto, a seat supported by the frame, rockers supporting said frame atone end, a stationary member supporting said frame at its opposite end,and means for engaging said rack bar and shifting the seat horizontallyon the frame and simultaneously throwing-its entire weight upon therockers.

9. In a device of the class described, a frame, a rack bar securedthereto, a seat sup orted by the frame, rockers supporting sai frame at,one end, a stationary member supporting said frame at its opposite end,means for engaging said rack bar and shifting the seat horizontally onthe frame and simultaneously throwing its entire weightt upon therockers, and flexible members for rockin said frame.

10. I n a device of the class described, a frame, a rack bar securedthereto, a seat supported on the frame, rockers supporting said frame atone end, a cushioned stationary member normally supporting said frame atits opposite end, a shaft carrying gear wheels, means for moving saidseat on the frame by operating the gear wheels, and simultaneouslyshifting the entire Weight of the seat upon the rockers.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signa ture in presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN FLINDALL.

Witnesses:

GEORGE E. WIssLER, CHARLES C. SPENoER. L

